Projects finding a decent body is frustrating. Need advice

I never realized what a pain in the ass it could be. All i come up with when i scour the adds is model cars and 70k street rods. I try combos of hot rod body, model a, model t, and even *gasp*... rat rod and rat rod bodies and variations of them all. Any suggestions? i figured a body saveable by a noob would be around 1-1.5k for a roadster of the '26 '27 or the 28-30 variety as i keep reading thread after thread of check out this score for x amount that seems almost impossible. Should i adjust my expectations?

tyler

 

Yeah, your off on prices..1-1.5K for a roadster body is a pipe dream, even a REALLY rough one is going to be around 2K for a Model A, Model T's are close to that price and a little harder to find. Brookville sells Model A roadster's for around $6800 which, yeah, It's not original Henry steel but by the time and money invested into a real one you'd be better off buying a Brookville one...

 

Keep looking there are still tons of cars out there. I think you might can find a t body for that price. But a roadsters I think would bring more than that.

 

yepp adjust your expectations. it wont happen over night. most usable model A roadster bodies will be atleast 3K unless you get lucky or find one that needs a lot of help. I do see model T roadsters for around 1000 though

 

Keep looking, you'll need to be the first to see it and be ready to pull the trigger as soon as you do. They aren't everywhere so your search will be more intensive. Getting the most complete unit is usually way cheaper long run but a bit more to get into.

 

I have been considering this.. kinda blows the budgeti had for a frame and a body, but i would save alot in time... I might also go for a pick up cab, but even those are damned hard to find

 

there is decent `29 tudor body in the classifieds right now for $550

 

ive had the most luck at local swap meets for finding bodies, go to every one you can and remember cash talks!

 

tudors make bad ass rods i think. they seem to be everywhere, but what is with the missing roof on most of them??

 

They are not hard to find,they just ain't cheap anymore.. HRP

 

no kidding haha

 

What is it that you REALLY want? T, A, truck, etc. There are lots of ads on CL here in SoCal as well as regular swapmeets at Qualcomm and up in Long Beach. Sounds like you move around a lot in the Navy...that can be good or bad, good that you see other areas but bad because you can't spend enough time in one place to develop a network of folks to keep and eye out for what you are looking for. Most of what I buy comes from leads I get from others...the HAMB is good but it is not very local, find so local guys and let them know what you really want, you'll be surprised at how fast you can come up with potential projects.

 

i plan on getting out and moving back to WA, so i'm hoping to find my project in the nw, where i already have a place to store/work on it. Roadster or pick up tudor. I like them all. they all are sick, but the pick up and roadster are number one in my book!

 

I'll agree that your expected prices are too low. I've seen a handful of decent T roadsters in that range, but never an A. I'd also suggest going to some swap meets and auctions instead of relying only on the internet. Guys who have computers and are savvy enough to write an ad on eBay or Craigslist will also usually check the going rate and price accordingly, there are better deals to be had in "meat space".

As mentioned above, there are good deals that pop up occasionally, but you have to have cash in hand and be ready to move on one when you find them.

 

The 3 i am going to go for is going to be an early pick up, Or a 26-27 t with the turtle deck. i like the model a body, but much more epensive

 

And thanks! it's good to know and i can plan accordingly!

 

Some times its;
Way too many rods are cartoon low now and driver just can't fit in side right.
To me it is not thinking build out well that they ends up that way or going for there idea of looks even at the cost of undrivible,but really looks bad also if ya knows engineering. There are a lot of cars out there that need fixing badly,can't see out of,will not clear the road bumps or driveways,ride like junk,steer like junk ,even some look like junk or a bad joke and they say it's finished. note, not many photos of them super low sedan being driven with driver in a good place,most head is sticking out or all bent over cramped up hoping nothing is in the way of were he thinks he is going.

 

You can piece together a good 26-27 for a fairly reasonable price. It might take a few months. But you might get lucky and find a good deal on some pieces in good shape. And be time and money ahead.

 

just be patient ...

i have always noticed, once you want something and you buy it. you ll find one for a better price and condition is alot better ( happened to me a few times )

so just save up at what you can n keeping the hunting going for 1

one will pop up sooner or later =)

 

Tyler,

Go take a trip w/ 2K cash and a trailer in tow ....

If you seek it

It will come


Jim

 

I am piecing together a Business Coupe body. As far as sheetmetal I should be under $1000, but will be burning a bunch of shop time and having to fab nearly 1/3 of the right quarter panel to get it done. I got the rear section out of the pasture of My great Uncle's ranch when I was working from him last year. I bought a cowl with gas tank from the scrap iron buyer, the header and the top portion of the cowl posts are a complete loss. Luckily I have a pair of cowl post that were discards from someone who made a stock car with no wnidshield back in the 50's, so will be splicing the upper 6" back on. Thye B pillars I am using are from a tudor sedan that I salvaged the lower qtrs from for the delivery sedan. I have to drill 7 carefully placed new holes, but very doable. Decklid and windshiled header are from model A parts trades over the last few years. Over half of the cost is going to be doors and a windshield frame that I have located locally. Roof pieces were found from a memeber of the HAMB and should have them within a couple of weeks. Doing it the hard way, but have the time to walk through it slowly. I have not updated my pic album with any of the stuff I I have found in the last 4 months, so those are a very incomplete look of where I am in reality. Rod

 

Check the craigslist ads and on here (local hamber sold me mine, think it was James?) around the area of LA. I see you're in my area, so I understand the frustration. San Diego has crap for bodies (most must have rusted away, or you have guys wanting 10k for a POS). If you're willing to push your budget to 4, you can find a decent original one, that's what I did....
PC

 

Keep looking and tell your friends i found a 26 t body and ruff bed for 375 at a swap/show told my buddy and he came and bought it he had been looking at bodys all over and had a t frame allready its no show peice but for less than a glass body you can't beat it

 

Steel may be real but glass has class and is cheaper

 

Tell everyone you see that you want an A or T, little kids, old ladies, Walmart employees, I really mean every person you come in contact with. It worked for me

I bought a 1946 Harley from a 19 year old girl for $150

 

Just a search tip on craigslist .Projects , be surprised what shows up. Jack

 

Who told you that? Somebody with a glass body?

 

Is that traditional?

 

some good advice here. I can only re-enforce to save your money and buy what you truly want. Go shopping with cash in hand and you will not be disappointed. Keep in mind you MUST love your build and want the car you're building or you will fizzle out and lose interest. Just my 2 cents

 

I can definitely stretch my budget and use what I had planned for a frame for a body... Just means the project may take longer not a huge deal if it means I get an "A" roadster. So what would be considered fair for a decent body?